Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Off-payroll Working

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many contractors working for his Department have had their employment status assessed in relation to the new IR35 rules on off-payroll working; and how many of those staff are subject to those rules.

Nigel Adams: IR35 assessments for contractors working at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) are carried out by a managed service provider.

Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Abena Oppong-Asare: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care what guidance he has issued to (a) schools, (b) community groups, (c) faith organisations and (d) other organisations that attract public congregation on the spread of covid-19.

Helen Whately: The Government has made several announcements regarding social distancing to be implemented across all areas raised in this question that will help reduce the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19). More information on social distancing can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adultsAdditional advice on school and business closures can be found at the following links:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-regulations-created-by-secretary-of-state-for-business-closure-covid-19https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-school-closures/guidance-for-schools-about-temporarily-closingOn 23 March the Prime Minister announced new measures to lock down the United Kingdom for a minimum of three week, stating that places of worship were among the premises that had to close immediately, along with libraries, playgrounds, most shops, and outdoor gyms. People should stay at home, except to shop for basic necessities, take exercise, address medical needs, and travel to and from essential work. More information can be found at the following link:https://www.government-online.net/the-prime-minister-announces-new-measures-to-lock-down-the-country/Specific guidance or information for faith groups is not held centrally. However, The Church of England have released their own advice. More information can be found at the following link::https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches

Coronavirus: Business

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government plans to update the section of its website entitled Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for employees, employers and businesses to reflect changes to advice since the Government's decision on 12 March 2020 to move to the delay phase of its response to managing the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 19 March 2020



The latest guidance is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19 This information is being regularly updated as further announcements are made.

Public Buildings: Closures

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason he has advised people to avoid pubs, clubs and theatres but not ordered their closure.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 23 March 2020



On 20 March the Prime Minister announced that cafes, pubs, bars and restaurants in the United Kingdom are to close as soon as they reasonably can and not to open again until the Government announces that it is safe to do so. Venues that provide food are still able to offer a take away service.Nightclubs, theatres, cinemas, gyms and leisure centres have also been told to close to the same timescale. The Government will review this situation each month until it is deemed safe to relax these measures.On 23 March the Prime Minister reiterated the message for people to stay at home and continue social distancing. He also announced the closure of shops selling non-essential goods, libraries, playgrounds, outdoor gyms and places of worship.Stay at home guidance is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidanceGuidance has also been published on social distancing for everyone in the United Kingdom and protecting older people and vulnerable persons. This guidance is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people

Coronavirus: Public Health

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has for public information adverts on terrestrial television to advise the public during the covid-19 outbreak; and if will make a statement.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 23 March 2020



On 15 March, a new television advertising campaign was included in to official efforts to ensure the public is aware of the best way to limit and delay the spread of COVID-19.As well as television, the campaign advice is featuring in newspapers and magazines, on drive-time radio, online and through social media and on billboards and large digital displays, including at bus stops.Additionally, the Prime Minister is holding daily televised press conference to update the nation on the latest measures taken in the fight against COVID-19.

NHS: Coronavirus

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what he is taking to protect front-line NHS staff who are (a) categorised as vulnerable and (b) over 70 years old during the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 24 March 2020



Preserving and protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of staff and keeping them well is critical for the National Health Service as we respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.Advice from the Government confirmed that the groups of people who should take particular care to minimise their social contact were:- People over the age of 70 and other adults who would normally be advised to have a flu vaccine (such as those with chronic disease); and- Pregnant women.For staff members in this category, the NHS will support staff to stay well and at work. NHS organisations should make adjustments to enable this wherever possible. Adjustments may include working remotely or moving to a lower risk area. Line managers should get support from the locally nominated EPRR (Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response) lead, or for example, Medical/Nursing director or Chief Operating Officer to make this happen. NHS organisations are encouraged to make it clear who the point of contact is in this regard.Our people are the most important consideration as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In these unprecedented times, our people more than ever will be making every effort to care for patients and the population, and we must equal that with the care we provide to them.

NHS 111: Recruitment

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many additional call handlers are being recruited to help manage the NHS 111 service.

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure calls to NHS 111 are answered within a reasonable timeframe.

Edward Argar: NHS 111 is increasing its call-handling and clinical capability to respond to COVID-19. The additional call-handling capability includes the non-telephony resource called the Coronavirus Response Service (CRS), which was established to support the core NHS 111. There are currently over 4,500 call handlers working across the country in the CRS, with plans in place to increase this number over the coming weeks. Work is also underway to increase the clinical capacity within NHS 111 by mobilising clinical resources across the core service and primary care.

Department for Education

Department for Education: Off-payroll Working

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many contractors working for his Department have had their employment status assessed in relation to the new IR35 rules on off-payroll working; and how many of those staff are subject to those rules.

Nick Gibb: Following the announcement in the House of Commons on the evening of 17 March regarding the delay to the IR35 reforms until 6 April 2021, the Department has paused the work to reassess workers’ employment status to the new IR35 rules.

Students: Assessments

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that students in (a) schools, (b) colleges and (c) universities are able to sit exams this summer.

Nick Gibb: Holding answer received on 23 March 2020



As my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, announced to the House on 18 March, the Government has taken the difficult decision to cancel all examinations due to take place in schools and colleges in England this summer, as part of the fight to prevent the spread of coronavirus.The Department’s priority is to ensure that students can move on as planned to the next stage of their lives, including starting university, college or sixth form courses or apprenticeships, in the autumn. For GCSE, AS and A-level students, we will ensure they are awarded a grade which reflects their work. Our intention is that a calculated grade will be awarded this summer based on the best available evidence, including any non-examination assessment that students have already completed. The qualifications regulator Ofqual is working urgently with examination boards to set out proposals for how this process will work and more information will be provided as soon as possible.The Department recognises that some students may nevertheless feel disappointed that they have not been able to sit their examinations. If they do not believe the correct process has been followed in their case, they will be able to appeal on that basis. In addition, if they do not feel their calculated grade reflects their performance, they will have the opportunity to sit an examination, as soon as is reasonably possible after the beginning of the new academic year. Students will also have the option to sit their examinations in summer 2021.There is a very wide range of different vocational and technical qualifications, as well as other academic qualifications, for which students were expecting to sit examinations this summer. These are offered by a large number of awarding organisations and have differing assessment approaches. In many cases, students will already have completed modules or non-examination assessment which could provide evidence to award a grade. The Department is encouraging these organisations to show the maximum possible flexibility and pragmatism to ensure students are not disadvantaged. Ofqual is working urgently with the sector to explore options and will provide more details shortly.Universities are autonomous institutions with full control over their own assessment processes. The Department and the regulator in England, the Office for Students, are working with registered universities and other higher education institutions to help support them with their decisions, and to find the best way forward for the benefit of all students affected. Universities will contact affected students directly.

After School Clubs

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to provide financial support to protect the viability of after school clubs in the event of school closures in England.

Nick Gibb: Holding answer received on 23 March 2020



Schools and all childcare providers are closed, except for a limited number of children - children who are vulnerable and children whose parents are critical to the COVID-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home.In his speech of 20 March 2020, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a range of measures to support businesses, including:the coronavirus job retention scheme for employees who are not working but kept on payroll – the Government will contribute 80% of a worker’s wages of up to £2,500, backdated to 1 March 2020;the Business Interruption Loan Scheme will now be interest-free for 12 months rather than 6 months; andVAT payments for next quarter will be deferred – they will not need to be paid until March 2021.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Clean Air Zones: Computer Software

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that the software required to enforce clean air zones is available by 2021.

Rebecca Pow: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 24 March 2020.The correct answer should have been:

The UK-wide Pollinator Monitoring Research Partnership was established with funding from Defra and the Scottish and Welsh Governments.The total cost over the three-year project period from 2016 to 2019 was £282,720.In-kind contributions from UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UK CEH) and other academic and voluntary organisations were also committed to the project, to a value of £201,804 (for example for staff time, data sharing, software). The monitoring work itself was co-ordinated by UK CEH.A follow-up project is now underway, building on the outcomes from this first one. Further details are available on the GOV.UK website at:http://sciencesearch.defra.gov.uk/The Government is working with a number of local authorities to put in place the digital infrastructure to support Clean Air Zones. The vehicle compliance checker launched earlier this year, with the payment portal launching in the summer. This will enable users to check if they may be charged to drive in a zone. Local authorities will be responsible for the enforcement of Clean Air Zones and the collection of any penalty payments arising.

Rebecca Pow: The UK-wide Pollinator Monitoring Research Partnership was established with funding from Defra and the Scottish and Welsh Governments.The total cost over the three-year project period from 2016 to 2019 was £282,720.In-kind contributions from UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UK CEH) and other academic and voluntary organisations were also committed to the project, to a value of £201,804 (for example for staff time, data sharing, software). The monitoring work itself was co-ordinated by UK CEH.A follow-up project is now underway, building on the outcomes from this first one. Further details are available on the GOV.UK website at:http://sciencesearch.defra.gov.uk/The Government is working with a number of local authorities to put in place the digital infrastructure to support Clean Air Zones. The vehicle compliance checker launched earlier this year, with the payment portal launching in the summer. This will enable users to check if they may be charged to drive in a zone. Local authorities will be responsible for the enforcement of Clean Air Zones and the collection of any penalty payments arising.

Home Office

Immigration: EU Nationals

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the deadline for applications to the EU Settlement Scheme beyond 30 June 2021 as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Kevin Foster: There are still nearly 15 months before the deadline of 30 June 2021 for applications to the EU Settlement Scheme. The published statistics, to 29 February 2020, show the scheme is performing well, with more than 3.3 million applications having been received and applications continuing to be received and processed.EU citizens can apply online, free of charge, simply by completing three key steps: proving their identity, showing they live in the UK and declaring any criminal convictions. There is support available online and by email.Where a person eligible for leave under the scheme has reasonable grounds for missing the application deadline, they will be given a further opportunity to apply. Our compassionate and flexible approach will ensure individuals who miss the deadline through no fault of their own can still obtain lawful status in the UK. We will publish clear guidance for caseworkers in due course to ensure consistency of approach.

Visas: Married People

Claire Hanna: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will reduce the minimum income requirement of £18,600 per year to sponsor a spouse's visa during the covid-19 outbreak.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office has put in place a range of measures to support those affected by the covid-19 outbreak.We continue to monitor the situation closely and may make adjustments to requirements where necessary and appropriate.

Visas: China

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will further extend the relaxation of visa requirements for Chinese nationals in the UK beyond 31 March 2020.

Kevin Foster: Visa nationals whose leave expired after the 24 January and who cannot leave the country because of travel restrictions or self-isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to extend their visa.A dedicated COVID-19 immigration team has been set up within UKVI to make the process as straightforward as possible. Anyone in this situation just needs to contact this team, via the following email address, CIH@homeoffice.gov.uk, to let them know their visa has expired and they will be issued with an extension.This will last until 31 May, but will be kept under regular review in case further extensions are needed.

Cabinet Office

Cabinet Office: Off-payroll Working

Justin Madders: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many contractors working for his Department have had their employment status assessed in relation to the new IR35 rules on off-payroll working; and how many of those staff are subject to those rules.

Chloe Smith: In total Cabinet Office has 469 contingent labour workers engaged via Public Sector Resourcing (PSR), all of whom have had their employment status assessed in relation to the new IR35 rules.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Voluntary Work: Coronavirus

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if the Government will provide funding to local councils to coordinate community volunteering efforts during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement,.

Mr John Whittingdale: DCMS is responsible for the voluntary, charity and social enterprise sector, which includes volunteering. We recognise and appreciate how much local communities have contributed towards volunteering efforts during the covid-19 outbreak. We advise that all volunteers do not enter the homes of vulnerable people and can provide support by assisting with food shopping, collecting medication and staying in touch via social media. Further information can be found on GOV.UK in the volunteering safely guidance published last week. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has outlined the support available to local authorities on its website.